Latinos join Mardi Gras celebration in Pensacola

PENSACOLA, Fla.—Marti Gras went out with exuberant fanfare on February 13, Fat Tuesday. The regional celebration is always the day before Ash Wednesday. In Mobile, the festivities bring the city to a halt, closing businesses and street traffic as a schedule of continuous parades runs throughout the day

Pensacola celebrates Fat Tuesday differently, in that the grand parade lined downtown streets on the Saturday prior to Fat Tuesday. The Mardi Gras season finale was celebrated with a public party called the “Priscus.” The festivities celebrates the end of the season and appreciation for the parade krewes and includes a coronation of the Mardi Gras king and queen.

This year, Latinos make a more visible presence in the Southern tradition. Krewe de Karnaval participated in the grand parade for the second time. The krewe showcased their newly renovated parade float, decorated colorfully with a lively portrait of Celia Cruz on the side.

It’s not all fun and games, though. Mardi Gras krewes also usually raise funds to benefit a charity. Krewe de Karnaval dedicates their efforts to support Council on Aging. The group collects fans and air condition units for the elderly in need.

“We chose to support Council on Aging because culturally, we are taught our elders are the center of our families and it’s honorable to respect and care for them,” said Rosy Carrion, the krewe’s founder.

Another young participant is the Krewe of SWAT, led by Brian and Cristina Williams, owners of Kool Karts in Pensacola. Cristina, whose family is from El Salvador, moved to Pensacola from New Orleans, a city famous for Mardi Gras celebrations. Brian and Cristina Williams were the 2018 Mardi Gras king and queen in Pensacola.